As Covid rises, Shanghai decides to impose temporary closures by sector | World

It has a population of 25 million, The largest city in China will confine the eastern half of it for five daysStarting on Monday (28th) for exams. From 1 April You will do the same with the western part.

In recent days, the city has become the epicenter of a new wave of infections across China, which began accelerating in early March.

The Public Health Authority announced 4,500 new cases during the past 24 hoursa thousand less than what was recorded in the previous days, but much higher than the figures of the past two years.

So far, Shanghai has avoided adopting a total lockdown, as officials see it necessary to keep both the port and the city’s financial center open to protect the national and international economy.

The eastern part of the city, Pudong, which is enclosed first, includes the international airport and the city’s financial district.

In the western part of Puxi, which will be limited from April 1, is the famous historical artery of the Bund, on the banks of the Huangpu River, which runs through the city.

The authorities urged residents to stay at home and urged all employees, both in the public and private sectors, not to work in essential services to do the same.

Exceptions refer to healthcare personnel, transportation personnel, and personnel supplying electricity, gas, or food products.

Buses, taxis and subways have stopped operating, but at the moment it is not known what will happen to port activities or the impact of the measures on trains and planes serving Shanghai.

Shanghai and Jilin are the two regions most affected by the epidemic currently.

The Chinese authorities are also watching with concern how the Omicron wave in Hong Kong took the lives of a large number of victims among the unvaccinated elderly.

Its subsequent spread to mainland China has created a dilemma for officials, who wonder how much force they should respond to.